Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 26, 2011

A BILL

To reauthorize the DC opportunity scholarship program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act or the SOAR Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

Parents are best equipped to make decisions for their children, including the educational setting that will best serve the interests and educational needs of their child.

(2)

For many parents in the District of Columbia, public school choice provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as well as under other public school choice programs, is inadequate. More educational options are needed to ensure all families in the District of Columbia have access to a quality education. In particular, funds are needed to provide low-income parents with enhanced public opportunities and private educational environments, regardless of whether such environments are secular or nonsecular.

(3)

While the per student cost for students in the public schools of the District of Columbia is one of the highest in the United States, test scores for such students continue to be among the lowest in the Nation. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), an annual report released by the National Center for Education Statistics, reported in its 2009 study that students in the District of Columbia were being outperformed by every State in the Nation. On the 2009 NAEP, 56 percent of fourth grade students scored below basic in reading, and 44 percent scored below basic in mathematics. Among eighth grade students, 49 percent scored below basic in reading and 60 percent scored below basic in mathematics. On the 2009 NAEP reading assessment, only 17 percent of the District of Columbia fourth grade students could read proficiently, while only 13 percent of the eighth grade students scored at the proficient or advanced level.

(4)

In 2003, Congress passed the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–199; 118 Stat. 126), to provide opportunity scholarships to parents of students in the District of Columbia to enable them to pursue a high-quality education at a public or private elementary or secondary school of their choice. The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (DC OSP) under such Act was part of a comprehensive 3-part funding arrangement that also included additional funds for the District of Columbia public schools, and additional funds for public charter schools of the District of Columbia. The intent of the approach was to ensure that progress would continue to be made to improve public schools and public charter schools, and that funding for the opportunity scholarship program would not lead to a reduction in funding for the District of Columbia public and charter schools. Resources would be available for a variety of educational options that would give families in the District of Columbia a range of choices with regard to the education of their children.

(5)

The DC OSP was established in accordance with the Supreme Court decision, Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639 (2002), which found that a program enacted for the valid secular purpose of providing educational assistance to low-income children in a demonstrably failing public school system is constitutional if it is neutral with respect to religion and provides assistance to a broad class of citizens who direct government aid to religious and secular schools solely as a result of their genuine and independent private choices.

(6)

Since the inception of the DC OSP, it has consistently been oversubscribed. Parents express strong support for the opportunity scholarship program. Rigorous studies of the program by the Institute of Education Sciences have shown significant improvements in parental satisfaction and in reading scores that are more dramatic when only those students consistently using the scholarships are considered. The program also was found to result in significantly higher graduation rates for DC OSP students.

(7)

The DC OSP is a program that offers families in need, in the District of Columbia, important alternatives while public schools are improved. This program should be reauthorized as 1 of a 3-part comprehensive funding strategy for the District of Columbia school system that provides new and equal funding for public schools, public charter schools, and opportunity scholarships for students to attend private schools.

3.

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to provide low-income parents residing in the District of Columbia, particularly parents of students who attend elementary schools or secondary schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316), with expanded opportunities for enrolling their children in other schools in the District of Columbia, at least until the public schools in the District of Columbia have adequately addressed shortfalls in health, safety, and security, and the students in the District of Columbia public schools are testing in mathematics and reading at or above the national average.

4.

General authority

(a)

Opportunity Scholarships

(1)

In general

From funds appropriated under section 14(a)(1), the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities with approved applications under section 5 to carry out a program to provide eligible students with expanded school choice opportunities. The Secretary may award a single grant or multiple grants, depending on the quality of applications submitted and the priorities of this Act.

(2)

Duration of grants

The Secretary may make grants under this subsection for a period of not more than 5 years.

(b)

DC Public Schools and Charter Schools

From funds appropriated under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 14(a), the Secretary shall provide funds to the Mayor of the District of Columbia, if the Mayor agrees to the requirements described in section 11(a), for—

(1)

the District of Columbia public schools to improve public education in the District of Columbia; and

(2)

the District of Columbia public charter schools to improve and expand quality public charter schools in the District of Columbia.

5.

Applications

(a)

In general

In order to receive a grant under section 4(a), an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.

(b)

Contents

The Secretary may not approve the request of an eligible entity for a grant under section 4(a) unless the entity’s application includes—

(1)

a detailed description of—

(A)

how the entity will address the priorities described in section 6;

(B)

how the entity will ensure that if more eligible students seek admission in the program of the entity than the program can accommodate, eligible students are selected for admission through a random selection process which gives weight to the priorities described in section 6;

(C)

how the entity will ensure that if more participating eligible students seek admission to a participating school than the school can accommodate, participating eligible students are selected for admission through a random selection process;

(D)

how the entity will notify parents of eligible students of the expanded choice opportunities in order to allow the parents to make informed decisions;

(E)

the activities that the entity will carry out to provide parents of eligible students with expanded choice opportunities through the awarding of scholarships under section 7(a);

(F)

how the entity will determine the amount that will be provided to parents under section 7(a)(2) for the payment of tuition, fees, and transportation expenses, if any;

(G)

how the entity will seek out private elementary schools and secondary schools in the District of Columbia to participate in the program;

(H)

how the entity will ensure that each participating school will meet the reporting and other program requirements under this Act;

(I)

how the entity will ensure that participating schools submit to site visits by the entity as determined to be necessary by the entity, except that a participating school may not be required to submit to more than 1 site visit per school year;

(J)

how the entity will ensure that participating schools are financially responsible and will use the funds received under section 7 effectively;

(K)

how the entity will address the renewal of scholarships to participating eligible students, including continued eligibility; and

(L)

how the entity will ensure that a majority of its voting board members or governing organization are residents of the District of Columbia; and

(2)

an assurance that the entity will comply with all requests regarding any evaluation carried out under section 9(a).

6.

Priorities

In awarding grants under section 4(a), the Secretary shall give priority to applications from eligible entities that will most effectively—

(1)

in awarding scholarships under section 7(a), give priority to—

(A)

eligible students who, in the school year preceding the school year for which the eligible students are seeking a scholarship, attended an elementary school or secondary school identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316);

(B)

students who have been awarded a scholarship in a preceding year under this Act or the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (sec. 38–1851.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code), as such Act was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, but who have not used the scholarship, including eligible students who were provided notification of selection for a scholarship for school year 2009-2010, which was later rescinded in accordance with direction from the Secretary of Education; and

(C)

students whose household includes a sibling or other child who is already participating in the program of the eligible entity under this Act, regardless of whether such students have, in the past, been assigned as members of a control study group for the purposes of an evaluation under section 9(a);

(2)

target resources to students and families that lack the financial resources to take advantage of available educational options; and

(3)

provide students and families with the widest range of educational options.

7.

Use of funds

(a)

Opportunity scholarships

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an eligible entity receiving a grant under section 4(a) shall use the grant funds to provide eligible students with scholarships to pay the tuition, fees, and transportation expenses, if any, to enable the eligible students to attend the District of Columbia private elementary school or secondary school of their choice beginning in school year 2011–2012. Each such eligible entity shall ensure that the amount of any tuition or fees charged by a school participating in such entity’s program under this Act to an eligible student participating in the program does not exceed the amount of tuition or fees that the school charges to students who do not participate in the program.

(2)

Payments to parents

An eligible entity receiving a grant under section 4(a) shall make scholarship payments under the entity’s program under this Act to the parent of the eligible student participating in the program, in a manner which ensures that such payments will be used for the payment of tuition, fees, and transportation expenses (if any), in accordance with this Act.

(3)

Amount of assistance

(A)

Varying amounts permitted

Subject to the other requirements of this section, an eligible entity receiving a grant under section 4(a) may award scholarships in larger amounts to those eligible students with the greatest need.

(B)

Annual limit on amount

(i)

Limit for school year 2011–2012

The amount of assistance provided to any eligible student by an eligible entity under the entity’s program under this Act for school year 2011–2012 may not exceed—

(I)

$8,000 for attendance in kindergarten through grade 8; and

(II)

$12,000 for attendance in grades 9 through 12.

(ii)

Cumulative inflation adjustment

Beginning the school year following the school year of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall adjust the maximum amounts of assistance described in clause (i) for inflation, as measured by the percentage increase, if any, from the preceding fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

(4)

Participating school requirements

None of the funds provided under this Act for opportunity scholarships may be used by an eligible student to enroll in a participating private school unless the participating school—

(A)

has and maintains a valid certificate of occupancy issued by the District of Columbia;

(B)

makes readily available to all prospective students information on its school accreditation;

(C)

in the case of a school that has been operating for 5 years or less, submits to the eligible entity administering the program proof of adequate financial resources reflecting the financial sustainability of the school and the school’s ability to be in operation through the school year;

(D)

agrees to submit to site visits as determined to be necessary by the eligible entity pursuant to section 5(b)(1)(I);

(E)

has financial systems, controls, policies, and procedures to ensure that funds are used according to this Act; and

(F)

ensures that each teacher of core subject matter in the school has a baccalaureate degree or equivalent degree, whether such degree was awarded in or outside of the United States.

(b)

Administrative expenses

An eligible entity receiving a grant under section 4(a) may use not more than 3 percent of the amount provided under the grant each year for the administrative expenses of carrying out its program under this Act during the year, including—

(1)

determining the eligibility of students to participate;

(2)

selecting eligible students to receive scholarships;

(3)

determining the amount of scholarships and issuing the scholarships to eligible students;

(4)

compiling and maintaining financial and programmatic records; and

(5)

conducting site visits as described in section 5(b)(1)(I).

(c)

Parental assistance

An eligible entity receiving a grant under section 4(a) may use not more than 2 percent of the amount provided under the grant each year for the expenses of educating parents about the entity’s program under this Act, and assisting parents through the application process, under this Act, including—

(1)

providing information about the program and the participating schools to parents of eligible students;

(2)

providing funds to assist parents of students in meeting expenses that might otherwise preclude the participation of eligible students in the program; and

(3)

streamlining the application process for parents.

(d)

Student academic assistance

An eligible entity receiving a grant under section 4(a) may use not more than 1 percent of the amount provided under the grant each year for expenses to provide tutoring services to participating eligible students that need additional academic assistance. If there are insufficient funds to provide tutoring services to all such students in a year, the eligible entity shall give priority in such year to students who previously attended an elementary school or secondary school that was identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316).

8.

Nondiscrimination and other requirements for participating schools

(a)

In general

An eligible entity or a school participating in any program under this Act shall not discriminate against program participants or applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex.

(b)

Applicability and single sex schools, classes, or activities

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the prohibition of sex discrimination in subsection (a) shall not apply to a participating school that is operated by, supervised by, controlled by, or connected to a religious organization to the extent that the application of subsection (a) is inconsistent with the religious tenets or beliefs of the school.

(2)

Single sex schools, classes, or activities

Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision of law, a parent may choose and a school may offer a single sex school, class, or activity.

(3)

Applicability

For purposes of this Act, the provisions of section 909 of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1688) shall apply to this Act as if section 909 of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1688) were part of this Act.

(c)

Children with disabilities

Nothing in this Act may be construed to alter or modify the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).

(d)

Religiously affiliated schools

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school participating in any program under this Act that is operated by, supervised by, controlled by, or connected to, a religious organization may exercise its right in matters of employment consistent with title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–1 et seq.), including the exemptions in such title.

(2)

Maintenance of purpose

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available under this Act to eligible students, which are used at a participating school as a result of their parents’ choice, shall not, consistent with the first amendment of the Constitution, necessitate any change in the participating school’s teaching mission, require any participating school to remove religious art, icons, scriptures, or other symbols, or preclude any participating school from retaining religious terms in its name, selecting its board members on a religious basis, or including religious references in its mission statements and other chartering or governing documents.

(e)

Rule of construction

A scholarship (or any other form of support provided to parents of eligible students) under this Act shall be considered assistance to the student and shall not be considered assistance to the school that enrolls the eligible student. The amount of any scholarship (or other form of support provided to parents of an eligible student) under this Act shall not be treated as income of the parents for purposes of Federal tax laws or for determining eligibility for any other Federal program.

(f)

Requests for data and information

Each school participating in a program funded under this Act shall comply with all requests for data and information regarding evaluations conducted under section 9(a).

(g)

Rules of conduct and other school policies

A participating school, including the schools described in subsection (d), may require eligible students to abide by any rules of conduct and other requirements applicable to all other students at the school.

(h)

Nationally Norm-Referenced standardized tests

(1)

In general

Each participating school shall comply with any testing requirements determined to be necessary for evaluation under section 9(a)(2)(A)(i).

(2)

Make-up session

If a participating school does not administer a nationally norm-referenced standardized test or the Institute of Education Sciences does not receive data on a student who is receiving an opportunity scholarship, then the Secretary (through the Institute of Education Sciences of the Department of Education) shall administer such test at least one time during a school year for each student receiving an opportunity scholarship.

9.

Evaluations

(a)

In general

(1)

Duties of the Secretary and the Mayor

The Secretary and the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall—

(A)

jointly enter into an agreement with the Institute of Education Sciences of the Department of Education to evaluate annually the performance of students who received scholarships under the 5-year program under this Act;

(B)

jointly enter into an agreement to monitor and evaluate the use of funds authorized and appropriated for the District of Columbia public schools and the District of Columbia public charter schools under this Act; and

(C)

make the evaluations described in subparagraph (A) and (B) public in accordance with subsection (c).

(2)

Duties of the Secretary

The Secretary, through a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, shall—

(A)

ensure that the evaluation under paragraph (1)(A)—

(i)

is conducted using the strongest possible research design for determining the effectiveness of the opportunity scholarship program under this Act; and

(ii)

addresses the issues described in paragraph (4); and

(B)

disseminate information on the impact of the program—

(i)

in increasing the academic growth and achievement of participating eligible students; and

(ii)

on students and schools in the District of Columbia.

(3)

Duties of the Institute of Education Sciences

The Institute of Education Sciences of the Department of Education shall—

(A)

use a grade appropriate, nationally norm-referenced standardized test each school year to assess participating eligible students;

(B)

measure the academic achievement of all participating eligible students; and

(C)

work with the eligible entities to ensure that the parents of each student who applies for a scholarship under this Act (regardless of whether the student receives the scholarship) and the parents of each student participating in the scholarship program under this Act, agree that the student will participate in the measurements given annually by the Institute of Educational Sciences for the period for which the student applied for or received the scholarship, respectively, except that nothing in this subparagraph shall affect a student’s priority for an opportunity scholarship as provided under section 6.

(4)

Issues to be evaluated

The issues to be evaluated under paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following:

(A)

A comparison of the academic growth and achievement of participating eligible students in the measurements described in paragraph (3) to the academic growth and achievement of the eligible students in the same grades who sought to participate in the scholarship program under this Act but were not selected.

(B)

The success of the program in expanding choice options for parents of participating eligible students, improving parental and student satisfaction of such parents and students, respectively, and increasing parental involvement of such parents in the education of their children.

(C)

The reasons parents of participating eligible students choose for their children to participate in the program, including important characteristics for selecting schools.

(D)

A comparison of the retention rates, high school graduation rates, and college admission rates of participating eligible students with the retention rates, high school graduation rates, and college admission rates of students of similar backgrounds who do not participate in such program.

(E)

A comparison of the safety of the schools attended by participating eligible students and the schools in the District of Columbia attended by students who do not participate in the program, based on the perceptions of the students and parents.

(F)

Such other issues with respect to participating eligible students as the Secretary considers appropriate for inclusion in the evaluation, such as the impact of the program on public elementary schools and secondary schools in the District of Columbia.

(G)

An analysis of the issues described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) by applying such subparagraphs by substituting the subgroup of participating eligible students who have used each opportunity scholarship awarded to such students under this Act to attend a participating school for participating eligible students each place such term appears.

(5)

Prohibition

Personally identifiable information regarding the results of the measurements used for the evaluations may not be disclosed, except to the parents of the student to whom the information relates.

(b)

Reports

The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations, Education and the Workforce, and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate—

(1)

annual interim reports, not later than April 1 of the year following the year of the date of enactment of this Act, and each subsequent year through the year in which the final report is submitted under paragraph (2), on the progress and preliminary results of the evaluation of the opportunity scholarship program funded under this Act; and

(2)

a final report, not later than 1 year after the final year for which a grant is made under section 4(a), on the results of the evaluation of the program.

(c)

Public availability

All reports and underlying data gathered pursuant to this section shall be made available to the public upon request, in a timely manner following submission of the applicable report under subsection (b), except that personally identifiable information shall not be disclosed or made available to the public.

(d)

Limit on amount expended

The amount expended by the Secretary to carry out this section for any fiscal year may not exceed 5 percent of the total amount appropriated under section 14(a)(1) for the fiscal year.

10.

Reporting requirements

(a)

Activities reports

Each eligible entity receiving funds under section 4(a) during a year shall submit a report to the Secretary not later than July 30 of the following year regarding the activities carried out with the funds during the preceding year.

(b)

Achievement reports

(1)

In general

In addition to the reports required under subsection (a), each eligible entity receiving funds under section 4(a) shall, not later than September 1 of the year during which the second school year of the entity’s program is completed and each of the next 2 years thereafter, submit to the Secretary a report, including any pertinent data collected in the preceding 2 school years, concerning—

(A)

the academic growth and achievement of students participating in the program;

(B)

the high school graduation and college admission rates of students who participate in the program, where appropriate; and

(C)

parental satisfaction with the program.

(2)

Prohibiting disclosure of personal information

No report under this subsection may contain any personally identifiable information.

(c)

Reports to parents

(1)

In general

Each eligible entity receiving funds under section 4(a) shall ensure that each school participating in the entity’s program under this Act during a school year reports at least once during the year to the parents of each of the school’s students who are participating in the program on—

(A)

the student’s academic achievement, as measured by a comparison with the aggregate academic achievement of other participating students at the student’s school in the same grade or level, as appropriate, and the aggregate academic achievement of the student’s peers at the student’s school in the same grade or level, as appropriate;

(B)

the safety of the school, including the incidence of school violence, student suspensions, and student expulsions; and

(C)

the accreditation status of the school.

(2)

Prohibiting disclosure of personal information

No report under this subsection may contain any personally identifiable information, except as to the student who is the subject of the report to that student’s parent.

(d)

Report to Congress

Not later than 6 months after the first appropriation of funds under section 14, and each succeeding year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations, Education and the Workforce, and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, an annual report on the findings of the reports submitted under subsections (a) and (b).

11.

DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools

(a)

Condition of receipt of funds

As a condition of receiving funds under this Act on behalf of the District of Columbia public schools and the District of Columbia public charter schools, the Mayor shall agree to carry out the following:

(1)

Information requests

Ensure that all the District of Columbia public schools and the District of Columbia public charter schools comply with all reasonable requests for information for purposes of the evaluation under section 9(a).

(2)

Agreement with the Secretary

Enter into the agreement described in section 9(a)(1)(B) to monitor and evaluate the use of funds authorized and appropriated for the District of Columbia public schools and the District of Columbia public charter schools under this Act.

(3)

Submission of report

Not later than 6 months after the first appropriation of funds under section 14, and each succeeding year thereafter, submit to the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, information on—

(A)

how the funds authorized and appropriated under this Act for the District of Columbia public schools and the District of Columbia public charter schools were used in the preceding school year; and

(B)

how such funds are contributing to student achievement.

(b)

Enforcement

If, after reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing for the Mayor, the Secretary determines that the Mayor has not been in compliance with 1 or more of the requirements described in subsection (a), the Secretary may withhold from the Mayor, in whole or in part, further funds under this Act for the District of Columbia public schools and the District of Columbia public charter schools.

(c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to reduce, or otherwise affect, funding provided under this Act for the opportunity scholarship program under this Act.

funding appropriated to provide opportunity scholarships for students in the District of Columbia under the heading Federal Payment for School Improvement in title IV of division D of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–8; 123 Stat. 653), the heading Federal Payment for School Improvement in title IV of division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–117; 123 Stat. 3181), or any other Act, may be used to provide opportunity scholarships under section 7(a) for the 2011–2012 school year to students who have not previously received such scholarships;

(2)

the fourth and fifth provisos under the heading Federal Payment for School Improvement of title IV of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–117; 123 Stat. 3181) shall not apply; and

(3)

any unobligated amounts reserved to carry out the provisos described in paragraph (2) shall be made available to an eligible entity receiving a grant under section 4(a)—

(A)

for administrative expenses described in section 7(b); or

(B)

to provide opportunity scholarships under section 7(a), including to provide such scholarships for the 2011–2012 school year to students who have not previously received such scholarships.

(c)

Multiyear awards

The recipient of a grant or contract under the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (sec. 38–1851.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code), as such Act was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall continue to receive funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of such grant or contract, except that—

(1)

the provisos relating to opportunity scholarships in the Acts described in subsection (b)(1) shall not apply; and

(2)

the memorandum of understanding described in subsection (d), including any revision made under such subsection, shall apply.

(d)

Memorandum of understanding

The Secretary and the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall revise the memorandum of understanding entered into under the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (sec. 38–1851.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code), as such Act was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, to address—

(1)

the implementation of the opportunity scholarship program under this Act; and

(2)

how the Mayor will ensure that the District of Columbia public schools and the District of Columbia public charter schools comply with all the reasonable requests for information as necessary to fulfill the requirements for evaluations conducted under section 9(a).

(e)

Orderly transition

Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the Secretary shall take such steps as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to provide for the orderly transition to the authority of this Act from any authority under the provisions of the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (sec. 38–1851.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code), as such Act was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.

13.

Definitions

As used in this Act:

(1)

Elementary school

The term elementary school means an institutional day or residential school, including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary education, as determined under District of Columbia law.

(2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means any of the following:

(A)

A nonprofit organization.

(B)

A consortium of nonprofit organizations.

(3)

Eligible student

The term eligible student means a student who is a resident of the District of Columbia and comes from a household—

(A)

receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); or

(B)

whose income does not exceed—

(i)

185 percent of the poverty line; or

(ii)

in the case of a student participating in the opportunity scholarship program in the preceding year under this Act or the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (sec. 38–1851.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code), as such Act was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, 300 percent of the poverty line.

(4)

Mayor

The term Mayor means the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

(5)

Parent

The term parent has the meaning given that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(6)

Participating eligible student

The term participating eligible student means an eligible student awarded an opportunity scholarship under this Act, without regard to whether the student uses the scholarship to attend a participating school.

(7)

Participating school

The term participating school means a private elementary school or secondary school participating in the opportunity scholarship program of an eligible entity under this Act.

(8)

Poverty line

The term poverty line has the meaning given that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(9)

Secondary school

The term secondary school means an institutional day or residential school, including a public secondary charter school, that provides secondary education, as determined under District of Columbia law, except that the term does not include any education beyond grade 12.

(10)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.

14.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, of which—

(1)

one-third shall be made available to carry out the opportunity scholarship program under this Act for each fiscal year;

(2)

one-third shall be made available to carry out section 4(b)(1) for each fiscal year; and

(3)

one-third shall be made available to carry out section 4(b)(2) for each fiscal year.

(b)

Apportionment

If the total amount of funds appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year does not equal $60,000,000, the funds shall be apportioned in the manner described in subsection (a) for such fiscal year.

March 17, 2011

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed